Friday, January 31, 2014

A series in which we discuss books about wives and tackling these questions:

1. What does this book say about wives or about the experience of being a wife?

2. In what way does this woman define “wife”—or in what way is she defined by “wife”?

~*~

I decided to join this reading challenge as I love the idea of it.

I will give my rating and brief comments below on the books read. So, this post will be updated throughout the year. Alerts to new comments will appear on the sidebar caption for this challenge.

I will also include some other "wife" related books read not currently on the official reading list.

~*~

The reading list:

May 2013: American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
-my rating: 4
Had a hard time reading this at first knowing that it was based on Laura Bush. But I liked the main character's personality and growth throughout the book.

June 2013: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
-my rating: 5
Great mix of history, Paris and perspective on Ernest Hemingway.

July 2013: A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
-my rating: 5
Engaging tale of life, love, forgiveness and non-forgiveness that come with harsh realities.

When Callie Taylor died, she expected to go to heaven—or maybe hell. Instead, when she was murdered in Dallas by some jerk with a knife and a bad-mommy complex, she went to Alabama. Now she’s seen another murder, and she can’t just let it go; she must find a way to make sure the police figure out who really killed Molly McClatchy before an innocent man goes to prison, all the while trying to determine how and why she woke up dead in Alabama.

Series:
Waking Up Dead
book 2 - tba

PeekAbook:

My two-bits:
I really enjoyed this ghost story with mystery element because of its characters (the good ones).

It is not clear why Callie, the main character wakes up dead. However, that is okay. This is more of a story about life after life.

We also do not get to learn much about Callie before her death. But, her afterlife turns out to be an adventure and as lively as life.

The fun part of this kind of life for Callie are discovering her ghostly abilities and learning how to control them.

* easter egg giveaways: are surprise giveaways embedded in posts that sometimes have an egg image at the bottom or simply hints at a giveaway for comments participation throughout the event or just because i'm feeling generous

* to see the original giveaway offer, click on the prize title links

* I will email winners for mailing addresses within two weeks.
Winners, feel free to contact me with your info if you don't get my email
or if you are just too darn excited and want to let me know -- like NOW ;-D

Her heart fluttered when she heard the sound of the key turn in the lock. She quickly adjusted her maroon silk sari with the yellow border, the one that had caught his eye, and waited eagerly for his footsteps.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven... Yes, exactly seven steps before he stopped, hesitated for a few moments, then removed his shoes one by one and arranged them neatly side by side on the shoe rack.

She smiled. He had been mindful of taking his shoes off every day now. "I am not used to it, but I will if you want me to. It's probably a good thing to do anyway."

As he settled down, he would pick up the TV remote and, without looking at her, would say in his smooth baritone, "So how did you spend your day, anything interesting?"

Shaan Ahuja found himself bowing to tradition and agreeing to an arranged marriage to the beautiful Ruhi Sharma. He went through the motions but had no intention of carrying through on his vows. His last foray into matters of the heart with an American girl had left him scarred and unwilling to try again. Thoroughly disillusioned and disgruntled he wasted no time in making his intentions clear to Ruhi on their wedding night. But, he was completely unprepared for what his new wife had in mind.

You saw The Exotic Tour... you got a taste for the beautiful culture and the romantic attraction of our spunky young characters... now we're reviewing it and posting a new excerpt at each stop! Here's today's: click image to enlarge

My rating: 4
My two-bits:

I found this to be a gentle romance read set in Los Angeles, California and India. Being that I grew up in the L.A. area, it was a treat to read about some of the sights mentioned.

Things start off rocky with plenty of back-and-forth tugging of the heart and playful banter sprinkle these pages.

The story also provides some insight into problems and issues that are involved in a modern day arranged marriage between an Indian couple. The characters in this story had major issues with true love and trust.

As the story progressed, it was interesting to see how the couple began to mature and appreciate each other and their relationship.

Read with us!

Simi K. Rao was born in India and has been living in the United States for several years. The inspiration for An Incurable Insanity came from what she has seen transpire among and within the immigrant community. Some of the experiences included are her own; some have been garnered from friends and casual conversations with acquaintances...

I am a physicianñand to many I may appear serious and solitary. But once people get to know me better, they often think that I am frank, down to earth, with quite a quirky sense of humor. And that is what I bring to my writingóread and you shall see.

I was born in the dead center of India, but had the privilege of spending time both in the north and south. Therefore I have been able to sample and absorb to some extent the vastly diverse cultures and languages of both these regions (the very quality that imparts tremendous richness to our countryís heritage,) óa phenomenon perhaps not seen anywhere else in the world.

After immigrating to the United States in my early twenties and spending several years in this country, whenever I travel back to my homeland now, I find that I appreciate my roots a lot more. Still there is so much to see and learn, that a lifetime wonít suffice.

* I will email winners for mailing addresses within two weeks.
Winners, feel free to contact me with your info if you don't get my email
or if you are just too darn excited and want to let me know -- like NOW ;-D

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Excerpt:
“Maybe because they knew what a complete ass you are, and there was no one better for the job.” She lunged at the book and tore out several pages before he was able to react. The pages scattered around their feet.

He grabbed her wrists. “That, guardian, was a step over the line.” He pulled her so close their bodies touched. “You made the mistake of thinking I need you.”

He knocked the wind out of Ashley’s lungs with a punch to the gut. The taste of salt and metal coated her tongue. Warm liquid spread over her shirt. Ashley slowly lowered her gaze to find the handle of a knife protruding from her side.

Was it possible? Could somebody who was already dead, die?

Sarian let go of her arm and shoved her back. A dull ache spread through her gut and she fell to the ground. She rested her head back and stared up at the dirt trapping in hell’s sun. Zanya’s emblem sat beside her. Ashley grabbed it and held it against her chest for comfort.

Everything had gone so wrong.

Sarian’s expression changed. She pushed up on her forearms to see what was happening. The knife twisted, and she muffled a shriek by biting her lip. With a deep breath, she gripped the handle, and did what had to be done. With one swift jerk, she yanked it out of her belly. It was impossible to trap the scream. She let go of the blade, and it clattered to the ground. Her hand shook as she pressed her palm over the wound.

When Ashley was able to force herself to a sitting position, she spotted a woman strolling through the genocide as if nothing were happening. Of course she would come. The vixen had the audacity to show up just in time to watch Sarian finally get what he wanted.

Contessa didn’t make any effort to pick up her gown or avoid stepping in puddles of scarlet as she strolled toward the temple.

Ashley watched the woman twirl a strand of hair while she passed the remaining underworlders being dismembered and pulled beneath the earth. The visible roots were now plump with blood, pulsing and writhing above the surface. As if they had their fill, they moved out of her way, dodging Contessa’s light footsteps.

“Hello, lover.” Contessa’s voice was like silk. She stopped at the altar’s base. Her stance was wide and her index finger tapped her bottom lip.

The deepening creases around Sarian’s mouth gave away his surprise.

“What? Not happy to see me?” Contessa turned to her. Ashley’s muscles tensed, sending a spike of pain through her body. “Oh dear,” Contessa said, ticking her tongue. “I see you aren’t doing very well.” The woman didn’t attempt to climb the steps. Instead, she stood in place, her emerald eyes gleaming. “Allow me to make an educated guess.” She tilted her head to the side. “Stabbed? Luckily for you it wasn’t through the heart.” She turned back to Sarian. “And you.”

Sarian glanced around the quiet city. “This wasn’t part of our agreement.” Ashley might not have heard it if she weren’t so close, but his voice quivered.

“It may not have been part of your plan, but it was part of mine all along.” She swayed her hips side to side as if she were a playful child telling a story, delighted to be the center of attention. “You couldn’t have honestly believed I would give up the lock of the guardian’s hair out of the kindness of my heart, did you?” She paused. “Oh, wait. I don’t have a heart any longer. You pierced it.”

“We agreed on a price, and you will get what you want, as soon as I am finished with it.”

“Yes.” Her smile vanished and her expression turned to stone. “You can be sure I will get everything I want.”

Sarian closed the book and scooped it under his arm. He shifted his weight. Ashley had never seen him look so nervous. “Stop playing games, Contessa.” He scanned the bloodstained valley. “Where is he?”

“Who, pet?”

“The king. I assume you are here because you’ve informed him of my plans. Or are you here for another reason?” His shoulders relaxed, and he leaned on the altar with a smug grin. “A second chance at earning my good favor, perhaps?”

“As much as it would please you to have me groveling at your feet for an opportunity to claim the throne you once promised me, that’s not at all why I’m here.”

A shadow cast over Sarian— the first shadow Ashley had seen in this realm. It loomed over him and stretched across the altar, then down several of the stone steps. Sarian stood up straight, his brows furrowed.
Contessa smiled widely. “I merely came to watch.”

Sarian spun and found himself face-to-face with a beast. Its muscular legs quivered under sleek black fur as if it had just learned to stand. Probably thirsty and weak like the others, it was most likely drawn there by the scent of blood.

Ashley pressed harder on her wound, but her hands were already coated in scarlet. She hoped her blood wouldn’t stand out from the others’.

The beast bared its teeth. The pads of its paw flattened against the stone when it took a step forward. Its breath blew a strand of Sarian’s hair away from his face, now drained of color.

Ashley held her breath and hoped it didn’t hear her pounding heart. The creature’s dark eyes gleamed with specks of gold. Sleek, midnight black fur covered its entire body, the only exception being a patch of gold on its chest.

Sarian’s face began to stretch, and the cracking of bones snapped through the air. His nose grew long, and the color of his skin morphed into slate, armor shielding his underbelly.

The animal snarled and lunged at Sarian before he had a chance to change completely and match the beast’s size and strength. The animal’s jaws clenched around Sarian’s shoulder, and it thrashed its head side to side until the ground was dotted red. Sarian’s frantic efforts to morph into his beastly form only seemed to anger the creature. He managed to slice the animal’s face with a sharp blow. It snarled and threw Sarian’s mangled body against the altar, then towered over him. The beast’s snout came within an inch of his face. Sarian reached out with his hands, now trembling like a child. He opened his mouth to speak.

The beast didn’t give him the chance.

It snapped down and tore off Sarian’s head. Blood sprayed over the steps as the animal discarded its trophy. Sarian’s head bounced down the steps until it rolled to a stop at Contessa’s feet.

Bile rose in Ashley’s throat. She pressed her hands over her mouth and dug her back into the stone—as if curling into a ball would somehow make her invisible. She remembered doing the exact same thing in the orphanage while drifting off to sleep, hoping Sarian wouldn’t be waiting for her in her dreams. It didn’t work then, and she had no idea why she was doing it now. Maybe instinct. Maybe just wishful thinking.

Contessa stared down at the remains. Her head tilted to one side as if in morbid curiosity, and she merely stepped over Sarian’s head as if it were a piece of garbage littering the ground.

~*~

About the author:
A long time enthusiast of things that go bump in the night, Theresa began her writing career as a journalism intern—possibly the least creative writing field out there. After her first semester at a local newspaper, she washed her hands of press releases and feature articles to delve into the whimsical world of fiction.

Since then, Theresa has been married, had three terrific kids, moved to central Ohio, and has been repeatedly guilt tripped into adopting a menagerie of animals that are now members of the family. But don’t be fooled by her domesticated appearance. Her greatest love is travel. Having traveled to over a dozen countries—not to mention an extended seven-year stay in Kodiak, Alaska—she is anything but settled down. But wherever life brings her, Theresa will continue to weave tales of adventure and love with the hope her stories will bring joy and inspiration to her readers.

* I will email winners for mailing addresses within two weeks.
Winners, feel free to contact me with your info if you don't get my email
or if you are just too darn excited and want to let me know -- like NOW ;-D

"I'm what awaits at the end," she added in a deep voice, mocking a story-teller, "the one thing no man can avoid." She giggled at my unchanging look of incomprehension. "I'm Death, silly."

After being caught in a car accident, Adam Lacroft meets Death (a gorgeous brunette in her twenties and something of a flirt). Eve, as she tells him to call her, explains that she feels bad about Adam's pointless death and, out of some weird sense of pity and fancy, offers him a deal to win his life back. She gives him three days to find the man that killed him and kindly return him the favor.

Adam fills his best friend Erica (a gorgeous redhead. Adam is just surrounded by hot chicks) in on the whole thing and they both start the hunt. But as Adam and Erica find out more and more about their target, they find less and less of Eve's version of the events and Adam starts to worry--less about if what he is going to do is right or wrong--and more about if Even will honor their contract and give him what she promised.

About the author:
Carlos Eduardo del Valle Paolini Carrero was born in Caracas, Venezuela, 1994. He's not related to his knowledge, to the other writer Christopher Paolini in any way. This is his first novel and it's awesome. Buy it and give it a home.

My two-bits:
I found this story to be a good start to a series with an interesting take on Death and grim reaper concept. Although it does have a cliffhanger ending and left me with questions about the character Death.

The main character, Adam, has a fun sense of humor which makes for some amusing and cute moments.

Today is the release day for THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS: FINAL ACT and I'm thrilled to be able to help out and spread the word about its release with an awesome guest post from Mab, an excerpt and a giveaway.

As with the first two books in the series, this third and final book will be released first in serial format. But this time a new episode will be releasing each week for six weeks until the novel is complete.

For those who haven't yet stepped foot into the Cirque des Immortels, now is the perfect time to get started. In just six weeks the series will be complete and all three books will be available in their entirety to devour.

So be sure to check out all the details below for more information about this awesome series. If you’d like to know just a little bit more, there is a one week only tour going on right now, which includes its very own giveaway. So just head over to Rockstar Book Tours for the schedule so you can follow along.

And if you'd like the chance to win another prize pack, don't forget to enter the giveaway in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

Now, let me turn things over to Mab, Ringmaster extraordinare.

***

The Guest Post

Hello, Lovelies,

The Final Act is here at last, ready to draw you in to that last bow over six deliciously tempting installments. Each week will take you deeper into the dark, debaucherous world of the Cirque des Immortals, right up until the thrilling conclusion. You thought you knew the Immortal Circus, but I can assure you, there's still much more to discover. Great lies and greater love, old flames and new foes...but I don't want to spoil it, not just yet.

So I'll leave you with this. Just a taste. Just in case you weren't ready to take the plunge.

The Big Top awaits...step right up.

-Mab

----

I hate how desensitized I've become to dead bodies.

It's not exactly a part of the gig, not really what I thought being the ringmaster for a circus would entail. But hell, Mab never left me a rule book when she handed me the job. I'm lucky she let me keep my head.

Despite the sleep in her eyes, there's an alertness to her I'm trying my best to imitate. She stares at the body lying prone in the parking lot like it's a science experiment gone awry, one that might blow up or sprout wings. I stifle a yawn with the back of my hand.

“Another evacuee?” I ask.

Not that there's any need to ask: the answer's an obvious yes. The bald guy sprawled on the ground can't be older than thirty: no bruises or blood, no obvious reason to croak. He looks like he just dropped dead. Which, seeing as he went against his contract by trying to leave, is precisely what happened.

***

About The Immortal Circus: Final Act

THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS: FINAL ACT

This book is a Kindle Serial. Kindle Serials are stories published in episodes, with future episodes delivered at no additional cost. This serial currently contains one episode out of an estimated six total episodes, and new episodes will be delivered every week.

Episode List

An additional episode will be delivered every week until the book is complete. New episodes will be added to the same book on your Kindle, keeping your place and retaining your notes and highlights. You'll be notified via email when a new episode has been delivered.

Episode 1: January 14, 2014. All is not well within the Cirque des Immortels: war is brewing, the troupe is angry, and without Kingston there, Vivienne's in over her head. But when an unexpected guest arrives, she realizes her problems have only just begun.

Episode 2: January 21, 2014. Now Vivienne must not only deal with a mutinous troupe, but her long-lost lover. To make matters worse, there's a new player in the game. And this opponent is hell-bent on revenge.

About A.R. Kahler

Alex is many things, but first and foremost, he’s a Sagittarius.

Born in Iowa and educated across the States, he’s taught circus in Amsterdam and Madrid, gotten madly lost in the Scottish wilderness, received his Masters in Creative Writing from Glasgow University, and drummed with Norse shamans. Sometimes he also walks about on stilts. Or sews. Or hammers tiny pieces of metal into pretty shapes.

When he’s not writing or climbing in the rafters, he’s probably drinking coffee. And seeing as he currently resides in Seattle, there’s coffee aplenty.

Other Books in the Series

Murdered contortionists aren't exactly what Vivienne signed up for when she ran away to join the circus. But like most things under the big top, nothing is what it seems. With a past she can't quite remember, Vivienne finds that running away forever might not be as appealing as it once sounded—especially not when she realizes the devilishly attractive ringleader, Mab, is the Faerie Queen of legend—and that she and the rest of the troupe are locked in an age-old rivalry between the otherworldly Courts.

Aided by her friends Kingston—a feisty stage magician whose magic is quickly stealing her heart—and his smart-ass assistant, Melody, Vivienne finds herself racing against the clock to discover the culprit behind a series of deaths that should be impossible. However, the answer she seeks might reveal more about her own bloody past—and future—than she bargained for.

Vivienne is almost content with her new life in the Cirque des Immortels. She has moved up from selling cotton candy to telling fortunes, she has a gorgeous, magical boyfriend, Kingston…and no one has been murdered since the clash between the otherworldly Courts. Her life under the faerie big top would be perfect, in fact, if not for the nightmares and visions that compel her to seek and confront her half-remembered past. But for Viv, not knowing her past may well be a blessing. There's a reason she ran away. But can she truly escape herself?.

The second act of the fantastically evocative Cirque des Immortels series, The Immortal Circus: Act Two draws readers further into a world that’s at once wonderful, seductive…and deadly.

Her heart fluttered when she heard the sound of the key turn in the lock. She quickly adjusted her maroon silk sari with the yellow border, the one that had caught his eye, and waited eagerly for his footsteps.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven... Yes, exactly seven steps before he stopped, hesitated for a few moments, then removed his shoes one by one and arranged them neatly side by side on the shoe rack.

She smiled. He had been mindful of taking his shoes off every day now. "I am not used to it, but I will if you want me to. It's probably a good thing to do anyway."

As he settled down, he would pick up the TV remote and, without looking at her, would say in his smooth baritone, "So how did you spend your day, anything interesting?"

Shaan Ahuja found himself bowing to tradition and agreeing to an arranged marriage to the beautiful Ruhi Sharma. He went through the motions but had no intention of carrying through on his vows. His last foray into matters of the heart with an American girl had left him scarred and unwilling to try again. Thoroughly disillusioned and disgruntled he wasted no time in making his intentions clear to Ruhi on their wedding night. But, he was completely unprepared for what his new wife had in mind.

Ruhi is an independent, feisty, business school graduate who comes from a warm and loving family. Only problem. She is an only child and her parents want nothing more than to see her married. When the socially high-class and wealthy father of the groom brokers a match between Ruhi and his youngest son, Shaan, the stars seemed to line up and Ruhi is prepared for happily ever after.

Until... the groom drops a bomb on her wedding night. He won't sleep with her because he's in love with someone else! Scrreeeccch...

Facing an arranged marriage, Ms. Raoís characters give us a chance to explore ancient traditions against the backdrop of a modern society with a high divorce rate. We also get the chance to experience the cultural differences between two countries, men and women and the basic truth that all you need is love.

There was no shortage of emotion in this book. There was a little bit of everything. For every passage that made me want to smack somebody, there was one where I wanted to nod my head and say "see, you're doing it right". The swoony moments were swoony, and there was just enough humor to lighten moments at the exact right time. Thank you, Sunshine and that crazy bird of hers.

The writing in this novel was amazing, but donít even get me started on the characters themselves. They were so real and easy to relate to that I couldnít help but fall in love with them, both as individuals and as a couple. I found myself at one second thinking ëIf theyíd just talk to each otherí and at the next thinking ëbut Iíd so have done the same thing.í This was a true comedy of errors with no easy way out of the corner theyíve backed themselves into.

Welcome...

We offer flowers in traditional welcome.

You are our honored guest...

You saw The Exotic Tour... you got a taste for the beautiful culture and the romantic attraction of our spunky young characters... now we're reviewing it and posting a new excerpt at each stop, starting with the prologue today!

Read with us!

Simi K. Raowas born in India and has been living in the United States for several years. The inspiration for An Incurable Insanity came from what she has seen transpire among and within the immigrant community. Some of the experiences included are her own; some have been garnered from friends and casual conversations with acquaintances...

I am a physicianñand to many I may appear serious and solitary. But once people get to know me better, they often think that I am frank, down to earth, with quite a quirky sense of humor. And that is what I bring to my writingóread and you shall see.

I was born in the dead center of India, but had the privilege of spending time both in the north and south. Therefore I have been able to sample and absorb to some extent the vastly diverse cultures and languages of both these regions (the very quality that imparts tremendous richness to our countryís heritage,) óa phenomenon perhaps not seen anywhere else in the world.

After immigrating to the United States in my early twenties and spending several years in this country, whenever I travel back to my homeland now, I find that I appreciate my roots a lot more. Still there is so much to see and learn, that a lifetime wonít suffice.

The truth is being unveiled and Iris’ past is unlike anything she ever could have guessed. For Stryx, finding your missing half doesn’t always mean finding your mate.

Iris has been missing a part of herself for so long that no one is sure she will be able to put the pieces back together and her ever reliable dreams may be forcing her astray. Coping with the death of someone she loved, she is forced to face the truth and break free from the lies that have caged her.

Series:
Owlet
Eyrie
Stryx - released October 2014

My two-bits:
I jumped in to reading this second book in the series before reading book one and had no problem picking up the storyline.

I was pleasantly surprised to read about this alternate world that incorporates a paranormal bird element. However, not really shapeshifting or flying or literal physical traits - more like the essence of.

Explanations and analysis are given as the main character and her entourage navigate the politics of their world.

Lots of friendship bonding and some romance also grabbed my attention in this story.

~*~

About the author:
Emma Michaels is the author of the ‘A Sense of Truth’ and ‘Society of Feathers’ series. Her goal with her latest YA series the 'Society of Feathers' is to give others what she did not have growing up; a strong female protagonist with asthma. While her previous aspiration was to be a lady knight she realized that not being able to run more than a few feet might become a hindrance so turned to writing instead. Her day jobs include being a cover artist, marketing consultant and silk screen designer.

As the founder of The Writers Voice blog she loves to connect authors and readers. As a book blogger turned author, she was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, until she moved at eighteen to Washington State. Suddenly, the world was a new place filled with tall green trees that reached further for the sky with every moment, making her want to do the same. Ever since, she has tried to make her life something new and different from what it was before, pursuing her future career, setting high goals and reaching for them. With the support of her fiancé, Chihuahua, and her amazing blog followers and fellow bloggers, she wants to prove to the world that anything is possible and help inspire fellow literary lovers to reach for their dreams.